MORE COVERAGE
Twitter Coverage
JOIN SATYAAGRAH SOCIAL MEDIA
"You can kill a revolutionary but you can never kill the revolution": 19-year-old celebrity chef Mehrshad Shahidi killed in Arak city by security forces, hit his head with batons after a demonstration of anti-Hijab protests, thousands appeared at funeral
On Wednesday (October 26), a 19-year-old celebrity chef named Mehrshad Shahidi breathed his last after he was beaten by the Iran security forces in the custody amid the seventh week of ongoing anti-Hijab protests in several parts of Iran.
|
The deceased had participated in the protest and was arrested by the Revolutionary Guard in Arak city. He was later beaten with batons while in the custody, resulting in his death.
According to the reports, the now-deceased chef was detained at the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence’s detention center. His family members said that the 19-year-old chef was killed after he received baton blows on his head. His family members also said that his skull was damaged but the authorities have insisted that he died of a heart attack.
“Our son lost his life as a result of receiving baton blows to his head after his arrest, but we have been under pressure by the regime to say that he has died of a heart attack”, one of the relatives of Mehrshad said.
The incident resulted in thousands of protesters taking to the streets on Saturday, during the funeral held for Shahidi. “Everyone who is killed will be supported by thousands more”, the demonstrators chanted.
|
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have denied claims that the chef was murdered in custody and stated that the cause of his death will be revealed later.
“There are no signs of fractures in the arms, legs, skull, or any brain injury”, said Abdolmehdi Mousavi, the province’s Chief Justice. Also, the Deputy Governor of the province, Behnam Nazari said that rumors were being spread by the anti-Iran media and that no bullets were shot at Mehrshad Shahidi. However, the locals confirmed to the media that the chef was arrested during a protest and was taken to custody where he was beaten to death.
The deceased was known as Iran’s Jamie Oliver and was reportedly killed a day before his 20th birthday. He had 25000 followers on Instagram and had posted quite a few videos of him cooking.
“He was a talented young chef at Boote Restaurant. He was ruthlessly killed by security forces in Iran. Tomorrow would have been his 20th birthday. We will never forget it. We will never forgive”, Iranian American author Dr. Nina Ansary was quoted saying.
As per the reports, Shahidi’s funeral was conducted on Saturday in the city. Thousands of protesters took to the streets to protest against Shahidi’s death. “Everyone who is killed will be supported by thousands more”, the demonstrators chanted. Meanwhile, the security personnel used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Violence erupted across Iran in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, who was beaten to death by the IRGC for failing to comply with the country’s mandatory hijab regulations. At least a dozen doctors, journalists, and artists have been arrested in Iran as a result of the outrage over Mahsa Amini’s death.
|
Mahsa Amini’s custodial death sparks anti-hijab protests across Iran
According to the reports, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was abducted by the ‘morality police’ in Tehran for not complying with the mandatory hijab laws of the country.
Amini who was on a pleasure trip to Tehran had not covered her hair ‘properly’ with the hijab. She was arrested by the police and then beaten in the police van while being taken to a detention center, dubbed as a ‘re-education class’ for not conforming to the country’s mandatory hijab rules.
The police took the woman to the police station on Vozara Avenue where already dozens of other women were being held for not following the hijab rules.
|
They beat the women and schooled them about the proper dress rules of the country. Mahsa was brutally beaten and taken to the hospital after she stopped responding in the custody. The doctors at the hospital stated that her heart continued to beat but her brain was no longer functioning. The woman breathed her last three days after the incident.
Her killing sparked massive protests in Iran, with women taking to the streets to up raise their voices against the regime.
Several women, including school-going girls, burnt their hijabs in sympathy with the tragedy, while women all throughout the world trimmed their hair in the protest. Protests erupted in dozens of places around the country in the aftermath of her death after which the government retaliated with a harsh crackdown.
However, three weeks after the death of Amini, Iran’s Forensic Organisation revealed a report stating that the woman had died due to illness and not due to blows and beatings given to her in police custody.
Earlier, the Police had also tried to cover up the matter claiming that Mahsa was already suffering from a heart problem and that she was never beaten in the custody.
|
References:
Support Us
Satyagraha was born from the heart of our land, with an undying aim to unveil the true essence of Bharat. It seeks to illuminate the hidden tales of our valiant freedom fighters and the rich chronicles that haven't yet sung their complete melody in the mainstream.
While platforms like NDTV and 'The Wire' effortlessly garner funds under the banner of safeguarding democracy, we at Satyagraha walk a different path. Our strength and resonance come from you. In this journey to weave a stronger Bharat, every little contribution amplifies our voice. Let's come together, contribute as you can, and champion the true spirit of our nation.
ICICI Bank of Satyaagrah | Razorpay Bank of Satyaagrah | PayPal Bank of Satyaagrah - For International Payments |
If all above doesn't work, then try the LINK below:
Please share the article on other platforms
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text. The website also frequently uses non-commercial images for representational purposes only in line with the article. We are not responsible for the authenticity of such images. If some images have a copyright issue, we request the person/entity to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will take the necessary actions to resolve the issue.
Related Articles
- "Important thing to know about an assassination is not who fired the shot, but who paid for the bullet": Iran plotted assassination on UK soil, tried to kill ten 'enemies of the regime' in Britain, MI5 warns of 'very real' threat posed by China and Russia
- "The story of life is quicker than the blink of an eye, the story of love is hello, goodbye": Nika Shakarami 17, vanished during the protest over the murder of Mahsa Amini, security forces delivered her dead body with her nose fully smashed, skull pounded
- "Empires won by conquest have always fallen either by revolt within or by defeat by a rival": 18-year-old Mahsa Mogoi shot dead by police in Iran while protesting the murder of Mahsa Amini amidst ongoing protests over mandatory wearing of hijab in public
- "Better to die fighting for freedom than be a prisoner all the days of your life": Unarmed Iranians walk towards police, one by one, opening up their arms, shouting; “we are not scared of bullets, kill us”, nation mourns 40th day of Mahsa Amini death
- "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often": United Nations removes Iran from Women Rights Panel drawing applause from Iranian dissidents who are seeking to depose the hardline regime following murder of Mahsa Amini for not wearing hijab
- "Karma is Real": Iran launches a bold missile and drone strike on terrorist bases within Pakistan, coinciding with the Pakistani PM's meeting with Iranian FM in Davos, sparking intense diplomatic fallout, raising critical questions about regional security
- "भाग भाग डीके बोस": After Israel’s airstrike eliminated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei went into hiding, as Operation New Order decimated Hezbollah’s leadership and missile arsenal with bunker buster bombs
- "Iran is not a nation-state; it's a revolutionary cause devoted to mayhem": 22-year-girl Mahsa Amini suffered severe head injuries and died in the custody of Iran’s Hijab police, and nationwide protests erupted by women in Iran against ‘Moral policing’
- "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable": Anti-hijab activist Armita Abbasi in danger, hospital staff reported a shivering girl suffering from internal bleeding, because of rape & torture, missing for 10 days
- "Like ocean waves crashing against the shore, the memories remain long after this goodbye": 20 year old Iranian girl, Hadis Najafi becomes a new symbol of defiance as she put her hair in a bun before confronting armed law enforcement officers empty-handed